By Brexton Alex

The difference between terminals and logistics centers. In the official UN document "Terminology of combined transport":

- the term "terminal" means "a place equipped for trans-shipment and storage of intermodal transport units" (containers, piggybackers, exchangeable bodies);

- the concept of a "logistics center" is defined as the "territorial association of independent companies and bodies engaged in freight transport (for example, transport intermediaries, consignors, transport operators, customs authorities) and related services (for example, storage, maintenance and repair) , at least one terminal. "

"Territorial association" is the compactness and internal connectivity of an object whose elements are located on a common territory and are united by internal technology.

A logistics center is an organization that provides services related to the management of cargo flows.

LC are also called distribution centers, terminal villages, etc. LC creates, as a rule, the state, solving questions about their optimal allocation and withdrawal of territory.

The main task of the logistics center can be formulated as: improving the coherence of the work of various modes of transport in the organization of mixed and intermodal transport; proper organization of integrated transport customer service; Expansion of types of services provided and improvement of their quality.
In addition, specialists of the logistics center should work continuously to attract additional volumes of transit cargo; reduction of their delivery time due to reduction of idle time at the points of cargo transshipment to other modes of transport and at border crossings; expansion of international cooperation. The main functions of the logistics center should ensure the implementation of new types of services and the satisfaction of the increased requirements of users of transport services to the complexity and quality of service.
The logistics center should realize its tasks through partners - participants in the logistics chain. Partners of the logistics center can be transport organizations, customs authorities, terminals, insurance companies, banks and other providers of related services.
As for the basic functions of the logistics center, they can be divided into two components - the functions of organization and control.

Types of LC. Exist:

-independent (independent object) and integrated (in the composition, for example, of a large seaport) LC;

-intermodal (discussed by different modes of transport) and unimodal (only road transport - in some countries where the railway is poorly developed) LC.

In addition, LCs are allocated, connected by regular rail container transportations.

Functions of LC. Logistics centers play an increasingly important role in developed countries, largely determining the development of the commodity distribution system. They provide:

· Consolidation and optimal redirection of cargo flows;

· Concentration of logistics services in the most convenient places for this;

· Formation, development and docking of international and national transport corridors;

· Effective interaction of cargo owners with transport and various modes of transport among themselves;

· Providing to cargo owners and transport operators a significant amount of additional non-transportation and non-transport services.

Logistic centers of companies are very diverse. Their structure depends on the profile and size of the firm. At small firms it can be a small group of logistics specialists and 2-3 computers. At large firms, these are units with a large staff and a significant number of computers, necessarily integrated into a local network with access to the Internet. The methods of managing material, information and financial flows used by them are described in the previous chapters. The main advantage of logistics centers of firms is that they are relatively cheap and can be quickly created. For them, there is no need to create many auxiliary units (for example, storage facilities or means of unloading and loading), since they are already available at the firm. They can take into account the specifics of the firm and do not carry the danger of breach of trade secrets.

Logistic centers of firms have received wide circulation since 1980th years that has been connected with a wave of bankruptcies of firms of wholesale trade. Mostly small and medium-sized firms were disorganized, having an outdated organizational structure and a large staff of employees. Survived mostly large firms operating in several cities or even countries. They had sufficient financial resources to reorganize and create logistics centers that increased the effectiveness of their work. Survived also by small firms, which had a modern structure and a small number of employees. At the same time, new small and medium-sized firms were created with logistics centers, a simple and economical organizational structure. There are firms with a staff of 15-20 people who successfully function. Often, most employees of firms are relatives, which increases their interest in the prosperity of the family business. But the greatest success, as a rule, is achieved by large firms using modern management methods.

The core of the logistics center is its information and analytical center, which manages all information, financial and material flows circulating in it. The main subdivisions of logistics centers are:
• large warehouses equipped with devices for loading, unloading and picking cargo;
• open container platforms;
• railway station, which provides the supply of wagons directly to the warehouses and warehouses;
• sea or river port;
• a platform for waiting for unloading and loading of motor vehicles;
• fleet of auto- and electric loaders, providing transportation of containers of the international standard;
• fleet of cranes, which are used for ships not adapted for horizontal loading;
• an office building with support facilities;
• communication service;
• a security service that ensures the safety of material values ​​and the safety of both employees of logistics centers and their clients, and others.